Hey Y'all. Hoping for some advice. I play a large variety of players from local league through to international players. One shot I find I have a real low percentage on is returning a heavy top spin shorter ball. The options I feel I have are block and counter top spin, both feel like really really low percentage shots.
From watching the pros they don't really have to deal with this type of shot due to them playing a bit further back from the table.
So I'm asking, how do folks play against this type of heavy topspin shortish low ball with a high percentage of success? Is it a case of that just being a difficult ball and you have to go for the counter and hope you land it? I noticed Truls uses a chop block quite a lot, I think that might help take some of the spin off and actually increase the chances of returning the ball in a way that makes the opponent work.
Thanks! Any links to vids is appreciated but I haven't found anything yet on YouTube.
Hi
@BHSlapper ,
I give you three easy ways to deal with this ball.
Number one thing for this shot (and ANY shot in TT) is upon opponent impact, that you properly discern what opponent did to the ball and what, how, when, where ball is going so you can instantly decide subconsciously how to deal with it and be there on time ready to do what you decided.
That sounds like a mouthful, but it is true. Unless you can see what happened and be there on time ready leveraged, your chances of failure go through the roof.
Having said that, there is a clue on how to know that slow heavy ball is a slow heavy ball and may go short... the SOUND of the impact with that whip stroke opponent used. You will not hear wood, just a small not so noisy sound that is the sound when someone really brushes the ball and did not drive it any.
Disclaimers and basic ed out of the way... time to look at three easy ways to deal with that heavy, slow, shallow landing ball.
Another disclaimer, your response will be the same process and biomechanics if the ball lands deeper, but the difference is in how much you have to see it and step in to position. it is a lot easy to cope with middle table or deep landing slow heavy balls, since you in theory have to move less to the position needed.
So, NUMBER ONE... the soft cover block and its variations. Step forward with proper leg Usually right for BH and can be either for FH) and UNDER the table, get hips to table top level or lower, get that lead leg well under the table. For BH, step to bounce point, get bat a couple inches and above bounce, close bat, loosen hand a LOT and watch the ball go back in like magic.
Several variations are to be active a little or a lot, but keep grip and arm real loose. maybe go forward a couple inches without much power loose grip, this will still eat the spin and keep rebound slow to land the ball. You can also tilt bat and get some side on it too, you can be creative, but go over the ball real close to bounce loose grip very little power if any.
Number TWO... Counter topspin... do the same thing, step to the ball, but your impact point is somewhere when the ball is on the rise and over the net by at least an inch... if ball has more arc, let it come a little higher to be safer... use very loose grip loose arm and cover the ball, use a short one foot stroke to counter the ball, do not go for much power, maybe 20%... you will make a medium fast medium spin counter this way.
Number THREE... do the same as number two, but accelerate the bat with a short stroke using 30 percent or whatever power and FIRM THE GRIP IT IMPACT... I mean REALLY firm it and time the firming right when or just before ball hits wood... the ball will EXPLODE from your bat. Your bat angle might be a little more open when you bang it like this, but it is minor and your brain will see it and adjust if you get position over the ball.